CHICAGO (April 29, 2021) – Just weeks removed from guiding the Ramblers to a third straight appearance in the Missouri Valley Conference Championship title game, Loyola University Chicago head men's soccer coach Neil Jones announced the addition of seven student-athletes to his 2021 recruiting class on Thursday.
 
Alex Alfaro (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove/Wisconsin), Matthew Andrusko (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East), Quinten Blair (Shawnee, Kan./Mill Valley), John Gates (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs School), Benni Hofmann (Gröbenzell, Germany/Theodolinden-Gymnasium München), Brody Phan (Sarasota, Fla./Shattuck-St. Mary's), and Kamran Tejumola (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada/Port Credit Secondary) will all join the Ramblers at the start of the 2021-22 academic year.
 
"Our staff is extremely excited about the incoming group of young men we're adding this Fall," Jones commented.  "Core attributes we always look for in players are competitive drive, love of the game, and character.  This group exudes those traits, and comes to Loyola to further deepen the level of talent we have within the team."
 
ALEX ALFARO
Midfielder | Arlington Heights, Ill. | Buffalo Grove | Chicago FC United | Wisconsin
 
Arlington Heights, Ill. native Alex Alfaro arrives at Loyola following a four-year stint at Wisconsin.  Alfaro, who attended Buffalo Grove High School and played on the club level for Chicago FC United, found the back of the net three times during his time with the Badgers.  Following a freshman campaign in which he appeared in 13 games as Wisconsin advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, the attacking midfielder started in a career-high nine games as a sophomore, netting a pair of goals.
 
 
MATTHEW ANDRUSKO
Midfielder | Brookfield, Wis. | Brookfield East | SC Wave

Out of Brookfield, Wis., Matthew Andrusko has racked up honors during his time at Brookfield East High School under the direction of head coach Erik Hess.  A three-time All-Greater Metro Conference honoree, Andrusko, who has 13 career goals and 22 career assists, took home All-State accolades in 2019 as he helped lead the Spartans to a runner-up finish in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) title game.  Named an Eastern All-American selection, he's also experienced success with coach Guilano Oliviero's SC Wave, winning a trio of Wisconsin State Cup Championships.
 
 
QUINTEN BLAIR
Midfielder | Shawnee, Kan. | Mill Valley | Sporting KC Academy

A versatile talent in the midfield, Quinten Blair has enjoyed a decorated career at multiple levels.  Named a First Team All-Eastern Kansas League (EKL) honoree and Second Team All-State selection for head coach Arlan Vomhof at Mill Valley High School, the Shawnee, Kan. product has earned Kansas Olympic Development Program All-State designation during his time with Sporting KC Academy.  Blair has appeared in a pair of Kansas State Cup Finals with the club, most recently helping it to a USL Academy Western Conference Championship in 2019.
 
 
JOHN GATES
Forward | St. Louis, Mo. | John Burroughs School | St. Louis Scott Gallagher SC
 
A forward by way of St. Louis, Mo., John Gates has earned All-Metro League honors during all four years of his career at the John Burroughs School under the guidance of head coach Alan Trzecki, most recently taking home the conference's Player of the Year award as a senior in addition to a First Team All-State nod.  Also a two-time All-Central Region selection by the United Soccer Coaches, Gates, who appeared on the club level for coach Denny Marschuetz and St. Louis Scott Gallagher SC, has a staggering 63 goals and 47 assists to his name for his career.  He earned Player of the Year honors from the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) as both a sophomore and junior, helping guide the Bombers to an MSHSAA State Championship during his sophomore campaign.
 
 
BENNI HOFMANN
Defender | Gröbenzell, Germany | Theodolinden-Gymnasium München | FC Bayern Munich
 
Benni Hofmann makes his to Rogers Park from Gröbenzell, Germany, where he has starred at the academy level for FC Bayern Munich, which has taken home eight straight Bundesliga titles at the senior level.  A defender, Hofmann, who was a member of the German National Team U15 pool, has been coached by the legendary Miroslav Klose during his time playing at FC Bayern Munich in the U19 Bundesliga, helping guide the club to a berth in the U19 UEFA Youth League.
 
 
BRODY PHAN
Midfielder | Sarasota, Fla. | Shattuck-St. Mary's
 
A product of a tradition-laden Shattuck-St. Mary's program, midfielder Brody Phan has appeared in 83 games during his time at the school.  Originally from Sarasota, Fla., Phan has tallied 16 goals, earning an Olympic Development Program All-Region nod in 2018 before appearing in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy playoffs the following year.  He was also selected to the National Futsal Team in 2019.
 
 
KAMRAN TEJUMOLA
Defender | Mississauga, Ontario, Canada | Port Credit Secondary | Sigma FC
 
Kamran Tejumola joins the Maroon & Gold from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, where he featured prominently for Sigma FC and coach John Zervos.  A vital piece of the club's defensive unit, he also made his presence in the final third, adding a goal and three assists in 2019-20.  Along with winning a Capital Area Soccer League title, Tejumola has participated in a pair of European tours with Sigma FC, notching wins over youth academy sides from Borussia Mönchengladbach and KRC Genk.
 
"Recruiting this group has been a unique challenge due to the pandemic, but at the same time, it has been an enjoyable process," Jones added.  "Our assistant coaches, Graham Brennan and Ricardo Pinto, and former assistant coach Steve Bode have been instrumental in putting such a quality group of future Ramblers together.  We're excited to get to work with them in August."
 
Along with the group of seven newcomers, Jones is expected to welcome back an experienced core of 24 letterwinners when Loyola begins its 2021 fall season.  That group includes six All-MVC honorees, including reigning Valley Player of the Year Billy Hency.